Paper reenforcing machine



Jan; 19, 1932. s. E. GIBBS PAPER REENFORCING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 8, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet l TOR m 53 74 1 ATTOR EY Jan. 19, 1932. e. E. GIBBS PA PER REENFORCING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 8, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 v v v vvv vvv X vvxvvvvvvvv Vvvvvvvv v v vv LE vvv v vv A TTOX NEY Jan. 19, 1932. G. E. GIBBS PAPER REENFORCING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 8, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 /N\/ENTOF?" ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1932.

G. E. GIBBS PAPER REENFORCING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 8, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY mix M m :3 I I 5 [III I Jan. ,19, 1932. e. E. GIBBS 1,841,945

PAPER REENFORGING MACHINE Originai Filed Nov. 8. 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet s ATTdR/VEY /NVENTOR,'

Jan. 19, 1932. e. E. GIBBS PAPER REENFORCING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Nov. 8. 1928 K d/K )1 I 1 g //VVENTOR."

ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1932. @555 1,841,945

PAPER REENFORCING MACHINE Original Fiied No v. 8. 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 A TTO'RNE Y Patented J an. -19, 1932 UNITED sures PATENT OFF-ICE GEORGE GIIBIBS, OF AT-T IIElBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN ,RE- ENI'OBGED PAPER COMP-AN Y, O]? ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS PAPER nnnmoncmo mcrrmn Application filed November. 8, 1928, Serial Ko. 818,(l68, Renewed 8, 1931.-

- This invention relates to machines for applying reenforcing filaments or unspun fibres transversely of a traveling sheet of paper or other fabric, and more particularly to imp'rovements in the transverse reenforcing machine shown, described and claimed in the Charles H. Howard Patent No. 1,590,167, dated June 22, 1926. In his Howard patent two cooperating machin' s are disclosed, one serves to apply reenforcing fibres longitudinally of a traveling sheet of paper, while the other serves to I apply reenforcmg fibres transversely of the sheet of paper, The mechanism of the patent for applying unspun fibres transversely v v of the traveling sheet of paper consists of an endless carrier provided with combs adapted to advance the sheet of straightened, unspun. fibres to a position above the sheet of paper so that one batch of fibres after the other may be deposited upon the traveling sheet ofpapera I'nythis manner successive portions of the sheet of paper are reenforced transversely as the sheet advances under the traveling combs. 1 l 7 According to the disclosure of said patent the fibres are ositively held between the teeth of the combs by locking means until the sheet of fibres is advanced across the sheet of.

paper to be reenforced, and then the 'portion' of the sheet-fibres disposedover the traveling sheet of paper is severed from the source of fibre supply' and ejected from the combs onto the sheet of paper. 35 The machine of said'pat'ent operates to deposit the transverse reenforcing fibres upon the traveling sheet of paper without interrupting the travel of the paper, and the speed at which such sheet of paper can be reenforced transverselvnecessarily depends upon thespeed at which the successive batches of of the sheet of paper. I

In developing the machine of said patent much difficulty was experiencedin devising v satisfactory means for quickly dofling or ejecting the'batches of fibres fromthe supporting combs onto the sheet of paper, and

reenforcing fibres can be placed transversely while the transverse reenforcing machine 0 said patent works very'well, its doifing mechanism cannot be operated at hi h speed, with the result that-the output of t e machine is The present invention relates to various improvements in the transverse reenforcing machine of said patent whereby its speed of operation is machine wor s more smoothly and satisfactorily. r

In the present machine, as in the machine of said patent, the sheet of attenuated fibres is supported by the combs of an endless conveyor until the sheet of fibres is advanced across thepaper to be reepforced and is then quicklydofled or ejected onto the paper. To accomplish this it is necessary that the dofiing mechanism of the combs remain inoperative until the sheet of fibres supported by these combs is advanced to'the' desiredposition and then the dofiing mechanism of this entire group of combs is quickly actuated.

Thenieans employed to actuate the group of doifers must not'disturb the dofiing mechanism of the, combs that are a preaching the dofling zone, and since the fibre supportin combs are spaced only a few inches apart and are advanced at considerable speed, it is necessary to effect the dofiing operation very quickly in order not to obstruct the path of the'next comb approaching the dofling zone.

Having this in mind an extremely 1mportant feature of the present invention resides in the arrangement of arts whereby the alternate combs are do ed from opposite sides-of the machine. That is, the mechanism for dofiing one comb is actuated at the right-hand side of the -machine while the I mechanism for dofling the next comb is actuated at the left-hand side of the machine.

As a result of this feature of the invention whereby alternate combs are defied from'the opposite sides of the machine, the speed at which the paper reenforcing machine may be operated may be greatly increased without eatly increased'and the entire necessitating a corresponding increase in the speed at which the dofling mechanism must" be shifted. This is due to the fact that when f all of the combs are doiied from'the same Side of the machine asheretofore, the dotting mechanism must act quickly enough to cross thepath of the next advancing comb without obstructing the path of such comb; but if the alternate combs are dolfed from the opposite sides of the machine, as in the present invention, it is merely necessary for the dofling mechanism to act with sufficient speed to clear the next comb that doifs from that side of the machine, which is the second comb of the conveyor. Furthermore, a better balanced machine is secured.

Each comb of the present machine has associated therewith a locking blade for positively holding the fibres between the teeth of a comb and a dofling bar, and another feature of the present invention resides in a single actuator associated with the comb for 0 erating both the locking blade and dofiing ar.

A further feature of the present invention resides in a delay action connection between the actuator and the associated locking blade and dotting bar whereby the former is moved to its fibre releasing position before the latter starts dofling. This delay action connection serves to lessen the strain on the actuated elements since it will cause the moving elements of a comb to receive their initial movements successively instead of simultaneously, with the result that the momentum of one element will help to impart the initial movement to the other element.

Other features of the invention and novel combination of parts in addition to the above will be hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one good practical form of-the invention.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a paper reenforcing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing in' side elevation the path along which the traveling combs are advanced and the operating mechanism associated therewith;

Fig. 3 is a front end view of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a rear end view of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 on an enlarged scale is a vertical sec tional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is "a front view of a pair of cams to be described;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the cams on Fig. 6 having slotted guide bars associated therewith;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 the main supporting frame being omitted in order to obtain a better view of the operating parts;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged side view of an actuating slide to bedescribed:

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a portion of the carrier showing the conveyor bars attached to the conveyor chains;

the conveyor chains showing one of the conveyor bars in side elevation;

Fig. 12 is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one of the links of the conveyor chain;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on the line 14-14 of Fig-11;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on the line 15-15 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 16 is a sectional View taken on the line 1616 of Fig. 11;.

Fig. 17 is a plan view of the cutter drum showing the cutter operating cams associated therewith;

Fig. 18 is a vertical sectional view through the drum of Fig. 17 and parts associated therewith; and

Fig. 19 is a top plan view of the machineof Fig. 1.

In carrying out the features of the present invention a sheet or layer 10 of reenforcing fibres is advanced from a suitable source of supply to the left-hand end of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1 and is advanced lengthwise of the machine until it reaches a position directly over the sheet of paper 11 that is being advanced transversely of the machine of Fig. 1, whereupon this layer or batch of fibres is doffed or forced downwardly onto the traveling sheet of paper 11 to reenforce the paper transversely (see Fig. 19).

The operating parts disposed. near the lefthand end of the machine of Fig. 1, in the construction shown are supported by the side frames or castings 12 which are secured in spaced relation to each other by transversely extending braces 13 and upon these side frames 12 are mounted the longitudinally extending frames 14 which are constructed to form an endless guideway for the conveyor bars to be described. The longitudinally extending side frames 14 are further supported in elevated relation to the floor by the uprights 15, and it should be noted that a clearance space is provided beneath the side frames 14 through which the sheet of paper 11 to be reenforced may pass in close proximity to the fibre-depositing mechanism to be described. The sheet of paper 11 is supported in close proximity to the paper reenforcing mechanism just mentioned by the longitudinally extending bars or rollers 16 which may be supported at the desired distance from the floor by the uprights 15.

In accordance with the present invention the sheet or layer of attenuated fibres 10 is advanced lengthwise of the machine by a number of combs; as these combs advance along the lower run of an endless path defined by grooves or guideways formed in the side frames 14, and as soon as this sheet of fibres has been advanced across the sheet of Fig. 11 isavertical sectional view through paper 11 it is severed from the source of supply and deposited upon the sheet of paper 11. The carrier for advancing these. fibres to the desired position consists of'side chains formed of links 17 having the construction best shown inFig. 13, wherein it will be seen that each link has a central projection18 at one end thereof which is adapted to fit between a pair of spaced lugs 19 provided at the adjacent end of the next link 17 and the links of this chain are connected by the transversely extending pins 20. Each pin 20 has j ournaled thereupon a roller 21 that is adapted to travel in the supporting groove 22 formed in the inner face of a channeled bar 23 that is rigidly secured to the inner wall 1 of each side frame 14. The conveyor bar path 22, as will be apparent from Fig. 2, consists of an upper run, a lower run, and the semi-circular, groove portions 24 disposed at'the opposite ends of the'machine,

to form an arcuate path between the upper cured to the conveyor barso that as these bars travel alongthe lower run of the end less path the teethof the combs will project downwardly from the bars into position to engage and support the sheet of fibres 10.

The meansemployed in the present mav chine for advancing the sheet of fibres 10 to the position in which the fibres are engaged by the combs 29 consists of the upper and lowerrollers 30, 31 disposed at the front portion of the machine, and the upper roller 30 is preferably mounted in bearing blocks 32 which are mounted for vertical sliding-movemerit andare normally urged upwardly the coiled springs 33.: The arrangement 1s such that this upper roller may be shiftedgo and from the fibre engaging position y shifting a handle 34 which serves to rotate one of the cooperating cams 35, 36, and the handles 34 disposed at the opposite sides of the machine are connected by a link 37. The lower roller 31 is preferably provided with a wide belt or apron 38 the upper run of which extends between the roller 31 and a smaller roller 39positioned near the point at which 7 the combs engage the sheet of fibres. This Iapron extends downwardly from theroller 39 to a lower roller 40 which roller is adjustably supported by the bell crank arms 41 i that are pivotally mounted upon the main frame '12 by the pivot pins42, the arrange- 'ment being such that these bell crank levers may be adjusted to vary the tension of the belt by operating the hand wheel 43. Should it be found that the apron 38 tends to run crooked, this may be corrected by raising-or lowering one end of the steering roller 44 by actuating the hand wheel 45. One end of this steering roller 44is journaled in a fixed bearing supported by the man frame 12, while the opposite or adjustabl end of this roller is journaled in a bearing provided at the outer end of the swinging arm 46, the arrangement being such that the outer end of this arm 46 may be raised and lowered about its pivot point 47 through the operation of the hand wheel 45.

The unspun fibres forming the sheet 10 are preferable combed and straightened before they are delivered to the feed rollers 30, 31, and-one good form of mechanism which may be employed to attenuate these fibres is shown, described and claimed in V the *CharlesH. Howard Patent, No. 1,565,008,

December 8, 1925. The delivery end portion of the attenuating machine disclosed in said patent is preferably positioned in close proximity to the lower feed roller 31, as indicated in Fig. 8, wherein several attenuating combs 48 are shown, and it may be desirableto mount a fixed fibre supporting bar 49 between the delivery end of the attenuat-- ing machine just mentioned and the nip of passing from the supporting roller 39 to the, fibre locking roller 50 which roller it should be noted is provided with the slotsor clearance. spaces 51 adapted to clear the downwardly extending combs while at the same time the fibres are supported by this roller 50 in position to be engaged bythe combs.- As a result of the construction just described each comb will beengaged with the sheet of fibers as these combs pass over the fibre-locking roller 50 and the fibres are locked between the comb teeth by means to be described and are retained in engagement with the present invention, by providing each conveyor bar 26 with a locking blade 52 mounted adjacent one face of the comb 29 for sliding movement in the direction of its length relativeto the comb and each lock- 'ing blade is provided with as many downwardly extending bent fingers53 as there are teeth to the comb; The arrangement is such that when a locking blade is shifted relativeisc ly to the comb 29'to the position in which the locking blade is shown in Fig. 11, the fibres will be positively held between the teeth of the comb and cannot escape therefrom until the locking blade has been shifted to. the fibre-releasing position.

Each conveyor bar 26 is also provided with a dofling bar 54 which is normally supported in its raised or inactive position in which it is shown in Fig. 11. To each dofiing bar 54 are rigidly secured a number of bar supporting rods 55 which rods are slidably mounted in passages formed transversely through the conveyor bars, as will be apparent from Fig. 15, and the dofiing bars 54 may be moved to and from their dofiing position by sliding the rods 55 in the direction of their length, as will be apparent from Fig. 11.

The means shown for actuating the rods 55 to move the doifing bars to and from their dofling position consists of the bell cranks 56 which are pivotally secured at 57 upon brackets 58 which brackets are rigidly secured to the conveyor bars 26 as will'be apparent from the drawings. Each bell crank 56 has a downwardly extending arm which is operatively secured by a pin 59 to the operating rod 60 which rod is supported by the brackets 58 for sliding movement lengthwise of the conveyor bar and the opposite arm of each bell crank lever is connected by a pin 61 to the upper end of a rod 55.

The means employed in the present construction for shifting the rod 60 in the direction of its length to actuate the doifing bar 54 consists of a slide 62 which is disposed at one end of each conveyor bar 26. This slide 62 preferably has the construction shown in .Fig. 9 and is constructed to slide lengthwise of the conveyor bar within a dove-tailed slot having the construction best shown in Fig. 16'which slot is conveniently formed in a block 63 that is rigidly secured to the hollow bar 64 that constitutes the main portion of the conveyor bar 26.

Upon each sliding bar 62 is mounted an actuating ball or roller 65 which is journaled upon a bolt or stub shaft 66 screwed into the slide 62. It is desirable to provide a loose or delay'action connection between the slide 62 and rod 60 actuated thereby, and this is accomplished in the construction shown by providing the inner end of the block 62 with the spaced portions 67 adapted to receive between them an end of the rod 60 as will be apparent from Fig. 11. This end of the rod 60 is provided with an elongated slot 68 adapted to receive a bolt 69 that is mounted in drill holes formed in the projections 67.

The sliding bar 62 serves not only to actuate the dofiing bar 54 by the mechanism just described, but serves also to shift the locking blade 52 to and from its fibre holding position, and this is accomplished by providing eachconveyor bar 26 with a pair of bell crank levers 70 which are pivotally secured to the block 63 of a conveyor bar. by the pivot pin 71. One arm of each bell crank lever 70 extends downwardly as will be apparent from Fig. 11, and is connected by a pivot pin 72 to a connecting link 73 which link is secured by a pinh'74 to the locking blade 52. It will be seen that a relatively slight movement will sufiice to move the locking blade 52 to and from the fibre holding position and this slight movement is imparted to the locking blade,

in the construction shown, by providing the sliding block 62 with the camming slot 75 that is formed transversely of the bar and is adapted to receive a transversely extending pin 76; the opposite ends of which pin are secured to the horizontally extending arms of the bell crank levers 70. The arrangement is such that when the slide 62 occupies the position in which it is shown in Fig. 11 the horizontally extending arms of the bell crank levers will be elevated slightly. This will serve to push the locking blade 52 in a lefthand direction viewing Fig. 11, to cause the fingers to occupy the fibre retaining position in which they are shown in this figure. When the slide 62 is shifted in a right-hand direc tion with respect to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 11 the camming surfaces 75 will depress slightly the horizontally extending arms of the bell crank lever 70 and this will pull the locking blade 52 in a right-hand direction sufiiciently to release the fibres.

As a result of the loose connection between the slide 62 and the .bar 60 actuated thereby the slide 62 may be shifted sufliciently to move the locking blade 52 either to the fibre locking position, or to the fibre releasing position, without moving the dofiing bar 54. This is desirable because it permits the locking blade 52 to be moved to the fibre releasing position before the bar 54 is actuated to dofl' these fibres and it also lessens the strain upon the actuating parts by permitting the initial movement to be imparted to first one and then the other, instead of imparting initial movement to both of these elements simultaneously.

As soon as the reenforcing fibres have been advanced transversely of the sheet of paper ll tobe reenforced, these fibres are severed from the source of supply before they are dofied and this is accomplished in accordance with the present invention by providing the cutter drum 77 which is disposed below the lower run of the endless conveyor, as will be apparent from Fig. 8. This drum in the present construction is provided with three knives disposed 120 apart about the periphery of the drum. Each of these knives consists of a fixed blade 78 and a movable blade 79 andof the drum 77 without disturbing these fibres which fibres are necessarily arranged in slightly spaced rows by the disposition of the teeth of the combs 29. When it is desired to sever the entire sheet of fibres all that is necessary is to shift the movable blade 79 the distance from one cutter finger to the next finger by means to be described.

The object of providing the cutter drum 77 with three sets of. cutters is to vary the length of the sheet of fibres which is cut to accommodate the width of the sheet of paper 11; that is, it may be necessary to actuate one cutter when a sheet of paper of a particular width is being reenforced and to actuate a different cutter when a sheet of paper of a different width is being reenforced.

The means provided for actuating the desired cutter blade to cut the fibres is, best shown in Figs. 17 and 18 wherein it will be seen that at one side of the machine is disposed a cutter actuating arm 80 positioned above the central shaft 81 of the cutter drum.

' This arm is rigidly secured to a rocking shaft 82;. the arrangement is such that the shaft 82 may be rocked to move the cam 83 of the arm 80 into and out of the path of aroller 84 journ'aled at the outerend of a slide 85 the inner end of which slide is secured to the movable cutter blade 79. When a particular cutter 79 is to be actuated to cut the fibres the arm 80 is momentarily shifted to bring the cam 8-3 into the path of the particular roller 84 it is desired to operate. This will serve "to push the cutter blade in a left-hand direction viewing Fig. 18 to cut the fibres. This movable cutter blade will remain in the position to which it was just shifted until it en gages a fixed cam 86. disposed below the shaft 81 whereupon the cutter blade will be shoved in a right-hand direction toiits original position. The fixed cam 86 is provided with an adjusting screw 87 for moving this cam to its proper position of adjustment. The cutter drum 77 is provided with the required number of clearance spaces 88 adapted toclear the downwardly extending teeth of the combs 29. v

Having now described the means for engaging the combs with the fibres to cause the combs to advance the sheet of fibres to the paper reenforcing position, also the means for positively holding the fibres between the combs, and the dofling mechanism and fibre cutting means,.th e mechanism for actuating these various partswill now be described.

The sheet of paper 11 to be reenforced isfed over the paper supportingoars or rollers 16 at a desired speed from a supply roll (not shown), and the speed at which the transverse reenforcing machine of the present in- Inother words, let. it beiassumed that the present machine handles a sheet of reenforclng fibres seven feet=wide, then a batch of fibres'must be deposited upon the sheet of paper 11 (see Fig. 19) every time seven feet of this sheet of paper are advanced over the supporting bars 16. If the width of the sheet of paper 11 being reenforced is varied then the speed at which the sheet of fibres 10 is advanced must be correspondingly varied, without changing the frequency of the operation of the cutting and dofiing means. This variable speed change is secured by the use of change gears-to be described.

In the construction shown a main drive shaft 89 extending lengthwise of the machine is driven from any desired source of power by the chain 90 engaging a sprocket mounted upon a'short shaft 91. This shaft 91 is connected to the shaft 89 by a clutch 92 having an actuating lever 93, and the shaft 91 is provided with a hand wheel 94.

The power shaft 89 drives bymeans of the bevel gears 95 the transversely extending shaft 96. This shaft 96 drives the chain 97 which is disposed'at the opposite side of the machine from that shown in Fig. 1. The chain 97 drives the transversely extending shaft 98 and this shaft is provided near the end thereof shown in Fig. 1, but inide of the frame 12, with the gear 99 which meshes with and drivesthe gear 100 mounted upon the shaft 101. The shaft 101 extends entirely across the machine frame and is provided at its opposite ends with the gears 100 adapted to drive the large gears 102 (see Fig. 5) which are rigidly secured to the opposite ends of the transversely extending shaft 103. Each large gear 102 is provided with an intermittent gear 104 which meshes with and drives a pinion 105 secured to the lower end of a vertically extending shaft 106. The present construction whereby the intermittent gears 104 are secured directly to the large gears 102, and these large gears are-driven at each side of the machine by pinions 100, re-.

lieves the driving; parts from torsional strains. Each intermittent gear 104 is provided with an offset portion 104", the con' struction being such that they will hold the cooperating pinions 105 and the vertical shafts 106 against rotation throughout the major portion of the rotation ofthe gears 102 and will then rotate each pinion 105 through the space of one tooth. This, serves to periodically rotate the dofling rollers 107 disposed at each side of the machine as shown in Fig. 5 above the lower run of the endless carriage. These dofling rollers are relatively long as will be apparent from Fig. 2 and extend over the entire width of, the sheet of paper 11 to be reenforced.

The slides 62 for actuating the dofiing mechanism are disposed alternately at the opposite ends of the conveyor bars, so that the dofling mechanism for one conveyor bar is actuated from one side of the machine and the dofling mechanism for the next bar is actuated from the other side of the machine, as will'be further explained. Each doifing roller 107 is provided with blades 108 adapted to enga e the slide actuatin rollers 65 to shift the dotting slides 62 an each roller 107 is mounted upon and is driven by a shaft 109 one end of which is provided with a gear 110 which is driven intermittently by a gear 111 secured to the upper end of the vertical shaft 106. The driving mechanism just described serves to intermittently rotate the dofiing rollers 107 to actuate the fibre doifing mechanism at each side of the machine.

The fibre cutting mechanism above de scribed is actuated periodically from the side of the machine shown in Fig. 1 by providing the large gear 102 with a drum 112 having the cam actuating roove 113 which groove is adapted to periodically rock the bell crank lever 114 that is pivotally mounted at 115. The lower end of this lever is provided with a roller 116 that is supported within the cam groove 113. The opposite end of the bell crank lever 114 is connected by a connectin rod 117 to an arm 118 that is rigidly secure to the cam actuating shaft 82; see Figs. 17 and 18. The arrangement is such that the rooved drum 112 serves to pe'riodicall raise t e cam 83 into its active position to t ereby shift the desired cutter blade 79 to cut the entire'sheet of fibres transversely.

The gear shaft 98 serves not only to intermittently operate the cutter and dofling roll-1.

ers in the manner just described, but serves alsoto drive the fibre advancing mechanism by driving the conveyor apron 38 and the series of conveyor bars 26, and since as above pointed out it may be desirable to increase or decrease the speed at which the sheet of fibres is advanced to the pa r reenforcing position without varying the requency of the operation of the cutting and 'dofling mechanism, provision is made for introducing variable speed gears between the driving gear shaft 98 and the driving gears for the fibre advancing mechanism. This is accomplished in the construction shown by providing at the outer end of the shaft 98 achange gear 119, and a gear supporting lever 120 that is mounted for rocking movement about its supporting shaft 121. n

The lever 120 serves to support a gear 122 for movement-toward and from the change gear 119 and the gear 122 meshes with a gear 123 mounted upon the shaft 121. The gear 123 drives a gear 124 which is rigidl secured to the central shaft of the fibre lockin roller 50 and serves to drive this roller. T e gear 123 serves also to drive the larger gear 125 which is rigidly secured to the shaft 81 of the cutter drum 77. The large gear 125 also drives an intermediate gear 126 which in turn drives a gear 127 that is mounted upon and rigidly secured to the transversely extending shaft 128 which shaft is provided at its opposite end with a second gear 127. These out changing the speed of operation of the intermittent gears 104.

Having described the various operating parts of the present machine the general operation of the machine 'will now be described. The sheet of reenforcing fibres is supplied in a straightened condition by the traveling combs 48 (see Fig. 8) to the apron 38 and as this sheet of fibres passes from the apron 38 to the fibre locking roller 50 it will be engaged by the teeth of the combs 29 and will be advanced by these combs to the desired position above the sheet of aper 11 to bereenforced.

As above pointe out each comb 29 has associated therewith a fibre locking blade 52 and these locking blades should be shifted to the fibre engaging osition as each downwardly moving com reaches a position directly below the central shaft 130; see Fig. 8. The shifting of the locking blade upon each comb as it reaches this position is secured by providing the transversely extending shaft 130 with the grooved cams 131, the construc tion of which is best shown in Fig. 6.

As the conveyor bars 26 move along their upper run towards the front end of the paper reenforcing machine the slide positioning rollers 65 which are now extending down- "wardly from the conveyor bars 26 will enter the guide slots 132 formed in the guide bars 133 disposed at each side of the machine. One end of each of these bars is connected by a pivot pin 134 to the upper portion of a cam the desired adjustment of the cams just 375 mentioned. the shaft 130 is provided at the side of the machine shown in Fig. 1 with a downwardly extending arm 136 which may be rocked through a small angle to adjust this shaft 130, and'then clamped in the de- .siredposition of adjustment, as will be apparent from Figs. 1 and 5.

As the conveyor bars travel along their upper run the slide actuating rollers 65 disposed at each side of the machine will enter the relatively wide slots 132 and will be guided by the converging sides of these slots to. the groove 137 formedin each cam 131, so

that the rollers 65 will travel in the grooves 137 as the conveyor bars travel downwardly in the arcuate path 24 at the forward end of the machine. a

The arrangement of the guide bars 133 is such that the grooves of these barswill shift the dofiing bars 54 to their retracted position and will also inove the locking blades 52 to their fibre engaging position. It is appar-' ent, however, that these locking blades mustpe shifted to their fibre releasing position beore the combs are moved into engagement with a sheet of fibres and this must be done while the dofing bars are retained in their retracted position. This is accomplished by providing each cam groove 137 with the olfset portion 138 which is disposed substantially in the horizontal plane passing through the central shaft 130. The offset portions 138 of the cam grooves will shift the rollers 65 and slides to which these rollers are secured sufiiciently to move the locking blades 52 to the fibre releasing position, but will not move the slide 62 sufiiciently to doff the dofling bars 54, and any danger of the doifing bars being accidentally shifted from their retracted position by the movement just mentioned of the slide 62 is prevented byproviding each conveyor bar 26 with a projection 139 upon one of the bell crank levers 56 and which projection is adapted to engage a holding plate 140 rigidly secured to the shaft 130; see Fig. 5. These holding plates will prevent the dolf ing mechanism from being shifted until the conveyor bars 26-have been advanced along their lower run:

Whileeach comb 29 approaches the fibre engaging position the locking blade associated therewith is held in the fibre release ingposition bythe portion 141 of the cam groove 137. When each comb reaches theposition directly below the shaft 130 its looking blade is quickly shifted to the fibre holding position by the offset portion 1420f the cam slot 137. The locking blades 52 are positively held in locking engagement with the fibres until the doifingzone is reached. This is accomplished by fixed blades 143 which exf tend'from the lower end of each cam 131 to the forward end of a doifing roller 107 and is positioned to hold the roller from moving 65 in the dofiing direction. When the conveyor bars reach the doifing rollers 107 the slide 62 will still-be held from movement in the dot?- ing direction by the engagement of the rollers 65 with the lowermost doiiing blade 108 .of each dofling roller, as .will be apparent from Fig. 5.

. As soon as the entire series of conveyor bars 26 which are advancing the reenforcing fibres have reached the doffing zone directly above the'sheet of paper 11 the two dolfing rollers 107 will be quickly rotated in opposite directions by the intermittent mechanism described to turn each roller through a distance of 1 th of a complete rotation, there being six blades 108 on each doifing roller in the present construction. This will serve to quickly move the slides 62 in an outward direction and the result of such movement, as

above pointed out, will be to first unlock the fibres and then doif them. Since the dofling rollers are of suflicient length to extend entirely across the sheet of paper they will'doif a batch of reenforcing fibres the length of which corresponds to the width of the sheet of paper. Thecutting mechanism above described will .be operated substantially simultaneously with the rotation of the flofiing rollers 107. i

Since it may be desirable to employ the present paper reenforcing machine to reenforce paper of different widths, each dofling roller in the present construction is formed of a main section 107 and of short end sections 107 and 107". Themain section 107 is at all times rigidly secured to the operating shaft 109 and the end sections 107* and 107 are loosely mounted upon the shaft 109 but may be rigidly secured thereto if a sheet of paper having a greater width than that accommodated by the main section 107 is to be reenforced. The end sections 107*, 107", which are not rotated by the shaft 109, may

beheld againstrotationby a dog or latch 1 144 which is pivotally-mounted upon a fixed bracket 145. These dogs maybe secured in either their active or inactive position by adjusting the locking bolt 146; see Fig. 5.

A feature of the present invention of primary importance, as has been above pointed out, resides in the construction whereby the alternate conveyor bars are dofied from the -;opposite sides of the machine. This is accomplished in accordance with the present invent-ion by arranging the bars 26 so that the dofiing slides 62 provided thereupon are disposed alternately at the right and lefteriod of time in which each roller 107 may rotated to effect the dofiing operation. It

will be understood that this rotation must take place with sufficient speed to prevent a blade of the dofiing roller from obstructing the path of the roller of the next conveyor bar which is entering the dofling zone.

Through this alternate arrangement of the dotting mechanism the present paper reenforcingmachine may be operated at a much greater speed than that of the machine of the oward patent above cited, and this alternate arrangement of the dotting mechanism has greatly improved the operation of the entire machine.

The various driving gears shown in Fig. 1 are preferably enclosed by a protecting screen not shown, and the lower gears are lubricated by rotating in oil contained in the lubricating receptacle 147.

The sheetof paper 11 to be reenforced ,has a layer of adhesive 147 (see Fig. 19) applied to its upper face before this sheet is advanced under the paper reenforcing machine of Fig. 1, so that the successive batches of fibres which are deposited upon this advancing sheet will be secured to the upper face of the sheet of paper by the adhesive, and, due to the construction described, whereby the fibres are locked between the teeth. of the combs until these combs reach the dotting zone, the entire sheet or batch of fibres are positively held in place in an attenuated condition until the instant occurs for dotting, whereupon they are quickly forced downwardly upon the adhesive covered face of the sheet of paper 11.

. As a result of this construction the reenforcing fibres are quickly and accurately applied in a straightened condition transversely of the sheet of paper 11.

\Vhile the machine of the present invention may be employed to reenforce fabrics transversely which fabrics may or may not be reenforced longitudinally, it is designed more particularly for use in manufacturing a multiply paper that is reenforced both longitudinally and transversely by unspun fibres that are adhesively secured between the sheets of paper. Such reenforced paper is extensively used as a building and wrapping paper and for other purposes where a strong reenforced paper is desired.

In practice it is found desirable to apply the longitudinally reenforcing fibres to the transversely reenforced sheet of paper 10 at the same time a second sheet of paper is applied over and adhesively secured to the sheet 10, as fully described and illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 318,064 filed Nov. 8, 1928.

What is claimed is 1. A machine for reenforcing fabric, comprising in combination, means for feeding a fabric to be reenforced by fibres, means for feeding a sheet of fibres transversely of the fabric, an endless carrier provided with combs for engaging the fibres and applying site sides of the machine.

2. A machine for reenforcing fabric, comprising in combination, means for feeding a sheet of fabric to be reenforced by fibres, means for feeding a sheet of fibres toward the fabric, an endless carrier provided with combs for engaging the fibres and applying them transversely of the fabric, means for positively holding the fibres between the teeth of combs, and actuators disposed at the opposite sides of the machine and operable to shift some of the holding means from one side of the machine and others from the opposite side of the machine, and mechanism for positively holding the fibre locking means in the fibre locking position during the move ment of the combs to the fibre releasing position.

3. A machine for reenforcing fabric, comprising in combination, means for feeding a sheet of fabric to be reenforced by fibres, means for feeding a sheet of fibres toward the fabric, an endless carrier provided with combs for engaging the fibres and applying them transversely of the fabric, means for positively holding the fibres between the teeth of the combs, and actuators disposed at the opposite sides of the machine to shift a group of the holding means simultaneously to the fibre releasing position and'adapted to operate part of said group from one side of the machine and the rest of the group from the other side of the machine.

4. In a paper reenforcing machine, means for advancing a sheet of paper, means for feeding a sheet of straightened fibres toward the paper, an endless carrier provided with combs for engaging the fibres and applying them transversely of the paper, means upon the combs for positively holding the fibres between the teeth of the combs, and actuators disposed at the opposite sides of the machine to quickly release the holding means upon some of the traveling combs from one side of the machine and quickly release the holding means upon other travel combs from the opposite side of the machine.

5. In a paper reenforcing machine, means for advancing a sheet of paper, means for feeding a sheet of straightened fibres toward the paper, an endless carrier provided with combs for engaging the fibres and applying them transversely of the paper, means upon the combs for positively holding the fibres between the teeth of the combs, and actuators disposed at the opposite sides of the machines to release the holding means upon the odd combs from one side of the machine-and release the holding means upon the even combs from the other side of the machine.

6.' In a fabric reenforcing machine, means for advancing a sheet of fabric, means for feeding a sheet of fibres toward the fabric, an endless carrier provided with combs for engaging the fibres andapplying them transversely of the fabric, means upon the combs for positively holding the fibres between the teeth of the combs, doffing rolls disposed at the opposite sides of the machine to release some of said holding means from one side of the machine and other holding means from the opposite side of the machine, and means for periodically actuating said rolls.

7. In a fabric reenforcing machine, means for advancing a sheet of fabric, means for feeding a sheet of fibres toward the fabric, an endless carrier provided with combs for engaging the fibres and applying them transversely ,of the fabric, means upon the combs for positively holding the fibres between the teeth of the combs, doifing rollsmounted' at the opposite sides of the machine, projections disposedat the opposite ends of adjacent combs and operable to shift said hold ing means, and means for rotating the dot?- ing rolls to actuate some of the holding means fromone roll and others from the other roll 8. In a fabric reenforcing machine, means for advancinga sheet of fabric, means for feeding a sheet of fibres toward the fabric, a carrier provided with conveyor bars having combs for engaging the fibres and applying them transversely of the fabric, means upon each bar for positively holding the fibres between the teeth of the comb, a dotfing bar adjacent each comb, an actuator upon each conveyor bar and operatively connected to the dofiing bar and said holding means, and means for shifting said actuator to operate the holding means and doffing bar to release and doflt' the fibres. I

adjacenteach comb, an actuator upon each conveyor bar for shifting the holding means and dofling bar and having a delay action connection between them to-cause one to move before the other, and means for shifting the actuator to operatethe holding means and dotting bar to release and doif the fibres.

10. In a fabric reenforcing machine, means for advancing a sheet of fabric, means for feeding a sheet of fibres toward the fabric, a carrier provided with conveyor bars having combs for engaging the fibres and applying them transversely of the fabric, means upon each bar for positively holding the fibres between the teeth of the comb, adoifing bar adjacent each comb, a slide upon each conveyor bar for operating the holding means and dofling bar and having a delay actionconnection with the holding means and doifing bar that permits a relative movement therebetween, and means for shifting the actuator to operate the holding means and dofling bar to release and doif the fibres.

11. In a fabric reenforcing machine, means for advancing a sheet of fabric, means for feeding a sheet of fibres toward the fabric, a carrier provided with conveyor bars having combs for engaging the fibres and applying them to the fabric, locking blades upon said bars for holding the fibres between the teeth of the combs, dofiing bars adjacent the combs, an actuating slide upon each carrier bar and provided with a cam for shifting the locking blade and a delay action connection for shifting the doffing bar, and means for shifting said slide to actuate said blade .and bar. o

12. A machine for reenforcing fabric, comprising in combination, means for feeding a fabric to be reenforced by fibres, means for feeding a sheet of fibres transversely of the fabric, a carrier provided with a conveyor bar having a comb for engaging the fibres and applying them transversely of the fabric, a locking-blade for holding the fibres between the teeth of the comb, a dofiing bar upon the conveyor bar, an actuator upon the conveyor bar, means forconnecting the blade and doffing bar to .the actuator so that relative movement may occur therebetween, means for shifting the locking blade to its open position as the comb approaches the sheet of fibres, means for holding the dofi'er bar retracted during this movement of the locking blade, and means for shifting the actuator to release and doff the fibres.

13. A machine for reenforcing fabric, com- I prising in 'combination,'meansfor feedin a fabric to be reenforced by fibres, means for feeding a sheet of fibres transversely of the fabric, a carrier provided with a conveyor bar havin a comb for engaging the fibres and applying them transversely of the fabric, a locking blade for holdin the fibres between the teeth of the com a dofiing bar upon the conveyor bar, a slide upon the conveyor ar, means for connecting the blade and dofiing bar to said slide to allow a relative.

movement therebetween whereby movementof the slide through part of its stroke will move the blade to its open position without shifting. the dofling bar, and means for shifting the slide to-release and dofi the fibres.

14. A machine for reenforcing fabric, comprising in combination, means for feeding a fabric to be reenforc'ed by fibres, means for feeding a sheet of fibres transversely of the fabric, an endless carrier provided'with conveyor bars having combs'for engaging the fibres and Q )plying them transversely of the fabric, a do ng bar upon each conveyor bar, actuators upon the conveyor bars for shifting the doifing bars and arranged alternately at the opposite sides of the machine, and means at each side of the machine for operating some of the actuators from one side of the machine and some from the other side thereof to doif a group of the bars.

15. A machine for reenforcing fabric, comprising in combination. means for feeding a fabric to be reenforced by fibres, means for feeding a sheet of fibres transversely of the fabric, an endless carrier having combs for engaging the fibres and applying them transversely of the fabric, dofling means associated with said combs and arranged so that some are operated from one side of the machine and some from the other side, doifing rolls at the opposite sides of the machine, a cutter for cutting the sheet of fibres transversely, means for periodically operating the dofiing rolls and cutter, and variable speed means for varying the speed of the endless carrier without modifying the periodic operation of the doffing rolls and cutter.

16. A machine for reenforcing fabric, comprising in combination, means for feeding a fabric to be reenforced by fibres, means for feeding a sheet of fibres transversely of the fabricJan endless carrier provided with conveyor bars having combs for engaging the fibres and applying them transversely of the fabric, fibre locking means and dofiing bars upon the conveyor bars, an actuator upon each conveyor bar and operatively connected to the locking means and dofiing bar, dotting means for shifting the actuator to operate the locking means and dofiing bar, and means for positively holding the actuators in the fibre locking position as the combs approach the doifing position.

17. A machine for reenforcing fabric. comprising in combination, means for feeding a fabric to be reenforced by fibres, an endless carrier provided with combs for engaging the fibres and applying them transversely of the fabric, means for cutting the sheet of fibres transversely comprising a rotating drum having cutters disposed about its periphery and each cutter being provided with cutter fingers adapted to be moved by the rotating drum between the fibres, and a cutter actuator mounted for movement momentarily into the path of a selected cutter to impart fibre cutting mO ement to that cutter. I

18. A machine for reenforcing fabric, comprising in combination, means for feeding a fabric to be reenforced by fibres, an endless carrier provided with combs for engaging the fibres and applying them transversely of the fabric, means for cutting the sheet offibres transversely comprising a rotating drum having cutters disposed about its periphery and each cutter being provided with cutter fingers adapted to be moved by the rotating drum between the fibres, a cutter actuator that normally lies out of the path of the rotating cutter, and power actuated means for momentarily moving said actuator to its active position to impart fibre cutting movement to a selected cutter.

19. In a fabric reenforcing machine, means for advancing a sheet of fabric, means for feeding a sheet of fibres toward the fabric, an endless carrier provided with conveyor bars having combs for engaging the fibres and applying them transversely of the fabric, means upon the conveyor bars for positively holding the fibres between the teeth of the combs, dofiing rolls disposed at opposite sides of the machine and provided with long bladelike projeegors extending lengthwise of the path travel d by the conveyor bars, actuators upon the conveyor bars for operating said fibre holding means and disposed near one end of some of the bars and near the opposite end of other bars, and means for rotating the dotting roll step by step to cause the bladelike projectors to shift the actuators to operate some of the fibre holding means from one side of the machine and others from the opposite side of the machine.

20. A machine for reenforcing fabric, comprising in combination, means for advancing a fabric to be rcenforced by fibres, means for feeding a sheet of fibres transversely to the fabric, an endless carrier provided with conveyor bars having means for engaging the fibres of the sheet and advancing them to a position across the sheet of fabric, dotting bars mounted to travel with the conveyor bars, and actuators at the opposite sides of the machine and adapted to shift some of the dofling bars from one side of the machine and others from the opposite side of the machine to transfer the fibres from the conveyor bars to the fabric.

In testimony whereof, I have signed 'my name to this specification.

GEORGE E. GIBBS. 

